Puy Pariou Stairway

The Puy Pariou Stairway is a wooden staircase that leads visitors to the summit of the Puy Pariou volcano within the Chaîne des Puys mountain range. The route winds through the terrain and provides hikers with access to viewpoints along the climb.

The land around Puy Pariou was granted to residents of a nearby hamlet by a Montferrand countess during the Middle Ages and has remained in collective ownership since then. This arrangement has shaped the relationship between people and the volcanic land for centuries.

The stairway is part of the Auvergne Volcanoes Regional Nature Park and represents the geological heritage of central France's volcanic landscape. Visitors can experience how the area connects people to the region's volcanic past through outdoor exploration.

The stairs can be used to reach the summit through designated paths, though crater access has been restricted since June 2022. Wear sturdy footwear and take extra care in wet or windy weather, as the wooden steps can become slippery.

The management team implements soil conservation through volcanic soil replacement and native seed planting to counter erosion damage. These ongoing efforts help preserve the stairway and volcanic terrain for future visitors.